DA Will Pursue Death Penalty In Boy’s Beating Death, If Possible

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Allegheny County District Attorney Steve Zappala tells the KDKA investigators that he will pursue the death penalty against Anthony Bush if he can.

Zappala says if the facts support it he will pursue the death penalty against suspect Anthony Bush. He also told Marty Griffin he will file criminal charges against the boy’s mother, Cynthia McKee, if the evidence supports it.

Among other things, he’s concerned McKee waited close to two hours to call 911.

Sources close to the investigation tell KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin suspect Anthony Bush called McKee at work at a pizza shop shortly after 9 p.m. Saturday, told her to come home immediately and asked her if she knew where the needle and thread were – apparently to try and sew up Donovan McKee’s wounds.

Marty Griffin’s sources say Bush used nunchuck-like clubs made out of wood to beat the boy and when those broke he used nunchucks made of metal.

Sources tell Marty Griffin Bush has a history of mental illness and he has been on what’s called SSI disability since 1995.

Investigators believe that Bush had been abusing the boy for a long time since the boy’s body showed healed injuries, including burns and internal injuries.

When she finally got around to calling 911, sources tell Marty Griffin she called twice – first to report her son fell, then called back to say that paramedics weren’t needed, but by that time they were already on the way.